Crate.



PATBNTBD MAY 12,- 1908. J. BOISVERT.

CRATE.

APPLICATION IILED APR. 6. 11507.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATBNTED MAY 12, 1908. J; L. BOISVERT.

CRATE APPLICATION FILED APR. 6. 1907.

2 SHEETS-sum zv PATENT OFFIQE.

JOSEPH L. BOISVERT, OF KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS.

CRATE.

Application filed April 6,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn L. BOISVERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kankakee, in the county of Kankakee and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to crates, and more particularly that kind which can be knocked down or folded for convenience in shipping. The invention comprises a crate having its side and end walls hinged to the base so as to be foldable inwardly upon the latter. The base and the side walls are made sectional so that after the side and end walls are folded, the folded structure can be folded again, thus still further reducing its size.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the crate set up. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the crate partly folded. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the crate entirely folded. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of one of the hinge connections hereinafter referred to. Fig. 7 is a sectional detail of one of the corners of the crate. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 2.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the base of the crate is divided transversely to form two sections indicated at 1 and 2, respectively. On opposite sides of the base, at its edges, are ledges to which the side walls of the crate are hinged. The ledges are in two sections indicated at 3 and 4, respectively, and each of the side walls is also in two sections indicated at 5 and 6, respectively. The ledge sections are also connected by hinges which comprise leaves 8 and 9 secured to the ledge sections on both sides and extending from the top to the bottom thereof. At the top of the leaves are knuckles for the pintle 10. The abutting ends of the ledge sections are halved and lap as indicated at 11 in Fig. 6, and the ends of the hinge leaves also lap whereby a firm and rigid joint is had between the sections when the crate is set up. The side walls are connected by hinges 12 to the ledges so as to fold inwardly. These hinges are so located that when the crate is set up the bottom of the side walls fit on the top of the ledges.

At each end of the base are ledges 13 to which the end walls 14 of the crate are hinged at 15 to fold inwardly. These end ledges are lower than the side'ledges, and the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 12, 1908.

1907. Serial No. 366,822.

} hinges 15 are below the hinges 12 so that the side walls may be folded inwardly upon the end walls when the latter are folded. On the inside and near the top of the side walls, at the ends thereof, are angle-irons having inwardly presented flanges 16 against which the end walls abut when the crate is set up. The flanges are also perforated to receive pins 17 projecting outwardly from the end walls.

The top of the crate is in two separate sections indicated at 18 and 19, respectively, which fit inside the walls of the crate, being supported on horizontally presented flanges 20 of angle-irons secured to the side and end walls. At their outer ends the top sections extend under retaining strips 21 projecting from the end walls. The top sections also carry depending hooks 22 which enter openings 23 in the horizontally presented flanges 20 of the angle-irons secured to the side walls of the crate. The top sections are held at their abutting ends by spring catches 24 which are secured to the side walls and engage recesses 25 in the ends of the sections. Below the recesses, the ends of the sections are beveled as indicated at 26 to facilitate the entrance of the catches into the recesses.

The top sections are made of slats, two of which, indicated at 27 are loose so that they may be moved to one side sufficiently to en able the poultry or other contents of the crate to be removed without taking the top off. The ends of the slats 27 seat in recesses 28 in the end bars of the top sections, and are held therein by retaining plates 29 over the same. One of the slats 27 carries a hook 30 which is engageable with an eye 31 on the other one of said slats whereby they are held in closed position. The size of the top sections is such that they can be placed on the base when the crate is to be folded.

To fold the crate, the top sections are unlocked and placed on the base sections, and the end walls are folded over on the top. The height of the ledges 13 is such that the top when in this position will not interfere with the folding of the end walls. The side walls are next folded over on top of the folded end walls as shown in Fig. 3. When in this position the hinges connecting the side wall sections 5 and 6 and the ledge sections 3 and 4 coincide and are horizontally presented so that the folded parts are in two sections connected by said hinges. these sections comprises the base, top, ledge One of and side wall sections 1, 18, 3 and 5, respectively, and one of the end walls 14. The other section comprises the base, top, ledge and side wall sections 2, 19, 4 and 6, respectively, and the other end wall 14. The hinge connection permits the two sections to be folded with the top edges of the ledge sections 3 and 4 coming together as shown in Fig. 4. This makes a small package, thus adding materially to the facility and con venience with which it may be transported.

In the drawing I have shown a slatted construction for the walls and the top of the crate, but if desired it can be a wire netting secured to a suitable frame; or the walls can be made solid. When the crate is folded as shown in Fig. 4 the side and end walls are not exposed so that the slats or wire netting if such are used in the wall construction will be fully protected and not liable to injury.

I claim z 1. In a crate, a base comprising folding sections, and folding walls carried by the base, one pair of said walls comprising folding sections the pivot of which is in line with the pivot of the base sections when said sectional walls are folded.

2. In a crate, a base comprising folding sections, and folding walls carried by the base and foldable inwardly thereon, one pair of said walls comprising folding sections the pivot of which is in line with the pivot of the base sections when said sectional walls are folded.

3. In a crate, a base comprising folding sections, and folding end and side walls carried by the base, said side walls comprising folding sections the pivot of which is in line with the pivot of the base sections when said sectional walls are folded.

4. In a crate, a base comprising folding sections, folding end walls carried by the base sections and foldable inwardly thereon,

and side walls carried by the base and foldable inwardly on the folded end walls, said side walls comprising folding sections the pivot of which is in line with the pivot of the base sections when said sectional walls are folded.

' 5. In a crate, a base comprising folding sections having longitudinal and transverse ledges at its edges, end walls hinged to the transverse ledges to fold inwardly, and sec tional side walls hinged to the longitudinal ledges to fold inwardly on the folded end walls, said side walls and longitudinal ledges being foldable with the base.

6. In a crate, a base comprising folding sections, folding end and side walls carried by the base, said side walls comprising folding sections which are foldable with the base, and a top fitting within said walls, and means for securing the top to the crate.

7. In a crate, a base comprising folding sections, folding end and side walls carried by the base, said side walls comprising folding sections which are foldable with the base, and a top comprising independent sections coinciding with the base sections, and means for securing the top to the crate.

8. In a crate, a base comprising folding sections having longitudinal and transverse ledges at its edges, the abutting ends of the longitudinal ledges being lapped, a hinge connection at said abutting ends, end walls hinged to the transverse ledges, and side I walls hinged to the longitudinal ledges, said side walls comprising folding sections which are foldable with the. base.

In testimony whereof I afi iX my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH L. BOISVERT.

Witnesses:

WARREN R. NIoHoL, CHARLES F. WHITMORE. 

